Philly Foodie

Valentine’s day is both the best day to own a chocolate shop and the worst day to be single, especially if you’re broke. Anyone who has been single for their fair share of Valentine’s Days is familiar with the sinking realization that your night to be spent watching Netflix, eating some candy and not texting your ex – really, don’t do it.

Whether you love him or hate him, it’s safe to bet that you have at least heard of Mark Wahlberg. What many people haven’t heard, though, is that Mark’s brother, Paul Wahlberg (or Paulberg as I’ve nicknamed him), decided to rally the family and open a burger chain. It’s appropriately named Wahlburgers. Note: there is an entire TV show about this, which I was unaware of until arriving at the restaurant.

As the warm summer breeze begins to slowly fade away and the leaves start changing their hues, coffee lovers have only one thing on their mind: the ubiquitous pumpkin spice latte. While arguments can be made for or against this seasonal classic, one thing is irrefutable: it has a significant impact on food culture in America. Almost all major coffee chains have their own rendition of this fall favorite.

Hawaiian food joints are limited in Philadelphia. Poi Dog draws inspiration from various other cuisines, including Filipino and Puerto Rican.

“We do well because nobody serves what we serve,” co-founder Kiki Aranita, above, said. “We have a customer base that looks for anything that reminds them of home, or of a really good time that they had on vacation.”

Head Chef Daniel Tang of Sugar Philly blowtorches the edges of a macaroon ice cream sandwich.

To Soda City, customer feedback is the most important aspect of their business. Their sodas are made right at the stand.

Soda City’s authentic barrel dispensers. All photos in this gallery are by Linh Than.

A precursor to Restaurant Week, the Fall StrEAT Festival Sept. 18 drew quite a crowd of Philly foodies to Manayunk’s Main Street; those who couldn’t snag a table sat on the curb were with sushi burritos and pizza cones in hand. There were vendors, a farm stand, live music, even street magicians, but it was the lineup of over 50 acclaimed food trucks that stole the show. If you didn’t get a chance to sample some of the best mobile meals that Philly has to offer, look no further: profiled below are five standouts from the festival, parked on a street corner near you.

Hidden behind a muraled exterior on 11th Street in South Philly is an unassuming taqueria, simply called “South Philly Barbacoa.” This restaurant, formerly a food truck, serves only two kinds of tacos. And they are perfection.

If you have ever spent time watching Louis C.K.’s sitcom, Louis, one of the lasting ideas from the show is the legendary “bang-bang.” If you enjoy eating – and eating a lot, I might add – this is also a perfect experience for you. Essentially, it’s when someone eats out at a restaurant and after a full meal is finished, he or she leaves and goes into a completely different kind of restaurant.